Droughts

This ongoing USGS study for Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina aims to (1) compute low-flow statistics at selected continuous-record streamgages in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina and to (2) develop regional regression equations for a subset of those low-flow characteristics for streams that are not substantially affected by tides, regulation, diversions, or other...

When rainfall is less than normal for several weeks, months, or years, the flow of streams and rivers declines, water levels in lakes and reservoirs fall, and the depth to water in wells increases. If dry weather persists and water-supply problems develop, the dry period can become a drought.

The multiyear drought in North and South Carolina (summer 1998-fall 2002) brought wide recognition of the vulnerability of the water resources in these two States to climatic conditions. To prepare for drought conditions in the future, water managers and State and Federal water-resource agencies sought to develop tools to assess hydrologic conditions in both a predictive and responsive manner...

Find out about drought conditions in Georgia. Our page offers links to maps and data, as well as Georgia and National drought links, drought resources from other agencies, and pertinent publications.

Find out about drought conditions in South Carolina. Our page offers links to maps and data, as well as South Carolina drought links, drought resources from other agencies, and pertinent publications.

Find out about drought conditions in North Carolina. Our page offers links to maps and data, as well as North Carolina drought links, drought resources from other agencies, and pertinent publications.

South Carolina State agencies use low-flow statistics for many applications, including determining waste-load allocations for point sources, development of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for streams, determining the quantity of water that can be safely withdrawn from a particular stream, and preparing the State Water Plan. This project will monitor the low-flow frequency and duration statistics...

The Panola Mountain Research Watershed (PMRW) is a 41-hectare forested watershed in the southern Piedmont physiographic province near Atlanta, Georgia. The watershed contains a naturally regenerated second-growth forest on abandoned agricultural land, typical of the Piedmont. Research at PMRW is focused on how streamflow is generated, and in particular, on how water and solutes move from...